Bead lock ring and assembly



Ott. 15,4 1946. C, ZARTH BEAD-LOCK RING ANDv ASSEMBLY 'Filed July s, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l od. 15, 1946. C. E. Ama 2,409,410

'BEAD Loox RING mmA ASSEMBLY Filed July s, 19424 5 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. l5, 1946. c.;-:.zAR1-H BEAD Locx RINGZAND ASSEMBLY Fi led Julyl, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Oct. 15, 1946 Charles E. Zal-th, Akron, Ohio, assigner `to Wingfoot Corporation, Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 3, 1942, Serial No. 449,601

This invention relates to pneumatic tires and to bead locking means therefor, and, more particularly, is concerned with bead locking rings for positively securing an open beaded, straight sided tire, such as a combat tire, to a rim.

When a conventional open beaded, straight sided pneumatic tire is mounted on the usual rim and operated in conjunction with the standard inner tube, any blowout occurring in the tire often results in the tire separating from the rim or becoming so loose on the rim as to render fur ther driving of'` the rim and tire impossible. Therefore, it has been proposed heretofore to provide-means for locking the beads of the tire in association with the rim, but such proposed means have been relatively expensive, difficult to apply and remove, and have not met with acceptance commercially.

Further, it has been proposed to provide bead locking means in theform of ribs'or buttons lformed integral with the rim and over which the beads of the tire must move before being positioned upon the bead seats with the ribs or projections thereafter tending to hold the beads of the tire on the bead seats of the rim. However, bead lockingmeans of this type,` while possessing some merit for light tires, have been found to be unsatisfactory for heavy pneumatic tires, for example, combat tires, and do not adequately secure the beads ofthe tireto the rim, to say nothing of the difficulty of getting the beads of the tire over the ribs or projections and on to the bead seat.

` It is the general object of my invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other diiiiculties of and objections to known forms of bead locking means by theprovision of an improved, relatively inexpensive, easily operated and applied bead locking means to be employed in conjunction with pneumatic tires and standard base rims.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a pneumatic tire and rim combination including a new `and improved and readily operated bead locking ring adapted to be heldl wedged between the beads of the tire at a point radially within the inextensible bead portions of the tire.

Another object of my invention is to provide bead locking means which are moved tobead locking relation by the pneumatic pressure inside of the tire.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved bead locking ring including a plu rality of arcuate segments connected end to end in ring form by pivotal lost motion means.

The foregoing and other objects of my inven- Claims. (Cl. 152-400) tion are achieved bythe provision of a bead lock ring for use with open beaded, straight sided pneumatic tires and including a plurality of arcuate segments and means for connecting the segments end to end so as to permit expansion and contraction of the ring. The ring is positioned between 'the beads of the tire mounted on a rim having radially outwardly directed side iiangies and the pneumatic pressure inside of the tire"`^serves to move the ring down in wedged relation between the beads of the tire and to engage the beads against the side flanges of the rim.

For a betterv understanding of my invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. `1 is a side elevation, partly Ain section, of a bead locking ring constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary radial elevation of that portion of the locking ring including the valve stem hole and driving lug; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary radial elevation of a portion of the locking ring illustrating the manner of connecting together the arcuate segments thereof;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line V-V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a perspective View illustrating the manner in which the locking ring can be folded together to form a compact unit for shipment, handling, and the like; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view through a rim, tire and tube illustrating the positioning of the locking ring just prior to being moved into wedging relation with the beads of the tire; and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but illustrating the position of the locking ring after it has been moved to the wedged locking position.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 indicates generally one typical embodiment of a bead locking ring constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention. The bead locking ring includes a plurality of arcuate segments I2 each having substantially a channel shape in cross section and adapted to be joined end to end by lost motion pivotal means. Such means ordinarily comprise short arcuate plates I4 having beveled end portions I6. Each plate I4 has a countersunk opening in each end which receives the beveled head of a rivet I8 extending through a suitable slot 20 formed in the end of the arcuate segment I2, with each rivet I8 being provided `with a hat head 22 which permits sliding and rotary movement of the arcuate segment I2 with respect to the plate I4 without separation of the parts. I

I provide a valve hole 26 in one of the arcuate segments I2, as best seen in Fig. 2, and the valve hole 26 is formed by punching out and bending down a lug 28 in the arcuate segment which lug serves, if this be desired, as a driving lug between the ring IU and any rim upon which the ring is mounted.

Fig. 6 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which the entire ring I U can be'folded into a relatively small .compact assembly vto facilitate the packing, shipping, or handling thereof. It will be noted from this ligure of the drawings that the heads 22 of the rivets are received between the sides of the channels of the arcuate'segments and that the plates I4 join the arcuate segments together for pivotal and lost-motion movement so that the ring I is free to expand and'eontract to an amount limited by the movement of the rivets I 8 in the slots 2U.

In the use of the bead ring I of my invention, as particularly illustrated in Figs. 7 and8 of the drawings, the numeral .36 indicates generally an .open beaded, straight sided pneumatic tire of a combat type having a relatively heavy side Wall and .carcass vportion including `a considerably .greaternumber vof plies oirubberized fabric than fthe .standard-pneumatic tire. However, it will be understood that the bead locking ring of my inventionmaybe employed in `conjunction with the standard, 'conventional Vpneumatic tire,

iIhe ;tire':30 includes inextensible wire beadre- -inforcements 32,'whicl'11 inthe combat type of tire -illustrated are generally spaced laterally of each .other andare two in Ynumberfor each bead of the tire. The pneumatic tire 3U is mounted upon afsubstantially,standardmetal rim 34 having radially ,outwardly ydir ectedside lianges 36, at least one Yof whichmay' be removablyreceived in a gut- .terportion formed-at one edge of the rim. Re- .ceivedwithin the pneumatic tire Y3l) is lan `inner :tube ligand .affiap .d2 'is vpositioned between the irmerztubeillandtherim 34.

Also -.positioned;between the innertube MI and .the rim :311 is the .bead locking range -I-d of my `present'inventiomand Fig. 7 of the drawings il- 'lustrates '.thelposition lof :the bead locking ring priolttoinflation ofthe inner tube Ml. Irl-other words,Fig. 7 illustrates the position that thejbead locking ring III `takescduring the assembly of the tire, tube, 'ap andlock Iring on therim `34. Once .thetire-ll and the variousparts thereof, as illustrated `4inIFig. .7, are 4completely mounted in position .under-pressure issupplied to the in- .tericnoi -the inner tube t0 and this air under .pressure forces fthe inner tube .40 and the ilap .42 down against the upperrsurface of the bead lockingV ring `III to Vwedge the bead locking ring down between the beads of the Atire and ,into engagement with the rimi, `as particularly illus- 'ftrated in Fig-8. Itwill'be seen from Fig. 8 that the beadlocking ring Iii is positioned radially inwardly ofthe wire reinforcements 32 in the beads A,of the tire 323, and that the rubber of the beads has `been deflected and-wedged under considerablehpressure by the bead locking ring I9 to vhold Ithe beads of .the tire outwardly against the side ,flanges 36 .of the rim Yin suche. ,positive fashion .thateven though the pneumatic .tire shouldsuffer ablow-out or-severe puncture the tire .is sosecurelyheld on the -ri-m .34 as to permit continued operation of the .rim and .tire as an 'integral-unit.

'The radially inward movement of Athe bead locking ring Ill from theposition shown -in Fig. 7 to that shown in Fig. 8 is possible due to the lost motion connections between the rivets I8 of the :plates :I4 andthe Aslots 20 :in the ends of the ari cuate segments I2, as will be understood from the foregoing description.

When it is desired to remove the tire 30 from the rim 34 the side flange 36 of the rim which is received in the gutter 38 is removed from the gutter so that the entire tire 30, inner tube 40, flap 42, and bead locking ring I0 can be slid laterally off .the rim 34.

From the foregoing it will be recognized that the various objects of my invention have been achieved by the provision of an improved bead locking ring and assembly particularly adapted for Securing combat tires and the like to a base rim, ,.and, generally providing improved, relatively-inexpensive, easily-operated positive means for securing an open beaded, straight sided tire to a rim. Although my invention is primarily adapted to operations in conjunction with standard rims-0f the type particularly illustrated and described above, it should be recognized that I may .employ a .bead locking ring of my invention .in conjunction with 4other types lol? rims.

`While in accordance with the patentstatutes I have speciiically illustrated yand described one embodiment vof my invention, it should-beparticulla'rly Aunderstood that I am not to be limited thereto or thereby, but that the scope of my invention is dened in the appended claims.

What Iclaim is:

1.'In combination, a substantially filat based rim having radially-outwardly ldirected lside flanges, an open-beaded, straight-sided pneumatic'tinemounted thereon, an'inner tube mounted within the tire,.a bead lockingming positioned between the beads of the tire, agflap between the ring and vthe inner tube, said tube being inflated tofwedge the ring down between the vbeads of .the tire and radially within theginexgtensible wire reinforcements of the beads and to engage the beads against the .side flanges of the rim, said ring includilg -a plurality of. arcuate segments of channelshaped cross section, arcuate plates bridging between theends .of the segments, and rivets secured `to the ,arcuate plates and extending through-slotted openings in the ends of the segments -to provide pivotal lost motion connections vbetween segments, and heads on the rivets received within thechannel of the segments.

r2. In combination, a substantially flat based Irim having `radially-outwardly directed side 'ilanges'anopen-beaded, straight-sided pneumatic :tire-mounted thereon, lan inner tube mounted within the tire, a bead locking ring positioned between the beads vof the tire, said tube being inflated ytowedge the ring down between the beads ofthe tire and radially within the vinextensible wire reinforcements of the beads and to engage the beads against the `side anges of the-rim, said ring including a plurality of arcuate segments of channel-,shaped Icross section, arcuate plates .bridging between the ends of the segments, and rivets lsecured-to the arcuate plates and extend- Ving .threugh-sldtted openings inthe ends of the segments to .provide pivotal lost motion connections between segments.

23. :A bead 4lock'ring for use with open-beaded, straight-sided .pneumatic tires including ya plu- -rality .of karcuate segments of channel-shaped .cross section, arcuate plates bridging between the ends of the segments, rivets secured to thearcuate .plates .and extending ,through slotted open- -ings fin .the:.ends .ofzthesegments to provide pivotallost motion Yconnections between segments, and heads on :the lrivets received within :the .channel shapeof the segments,

4. A bead-locking device adapted when installed to retain the beads of a pneumatic tire upon its rim seat, comprising a plurality of arcuate segments united one to another by substantially rigid connectors, said connectors and segments having coacting means adapted to provide pivotal movement of one segment with respect to an adjacent segment, and relative circumferential movement between adjacent segments.

5. In combination, a iianged rim, a pneumatic tire having inextensible bead reinforcements therein mounted on the rim, an inner tube in said tire, and a bead-locking device for retaining the beads against the rim flanges, said bead-locking deviceV embodying a plurality of rigid arcuate segments interconnected by rigid connectors to form an annulus and means coacting With said segments and connectors for providing pivotal movement between adjacent segments as well as relative circumferential movement between said i0 segments.

CHARLES E. ZARTH. 

